They Call It Sin

They Call It Sin

Year: 1932

Runtime: 69 mins

Language: English

Director: Thornton Freeland

Drama

Set in 1920, a naive church organist from a small town is abruptly expelled from her home after being told she was adopted and that her mother was a wicked woman. Determined to follow the man she loves, she heads to the big city, only to find herself alone and forced to survive on her wits.

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Timeline & Setting – They Call It Sin (1932)

Explore the full timeline and setting of They Call It Sin (1932). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

Set against the early 1930s, a period when economic pressures and the rise of studio-backed productions shaped careers. The era blends pre-Code daring with the vulnerability of aspiring performers seeking independence. The time frame frames Marion's choices as both personal and public in a society quick to scrutinize women's sexuality and ambition.

Location

Small-town, New York City

The action shifts from Marion's quiet hometown to the bustling heart of Manhattan, where theatre and melodrama collide. The small town provides contrast to the glitzy, risky world of show business she pursues. New York in the 1930s serves as a backdrop of studios, producers, and social mores that judge women's reputations.

🏘️ Small-town 🗽 New York City 🎭 Showbiz 🕰️ 1930s

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:48

Main Characters – They Call It Sin (1932)

Meet the key characters of They Call It Sin (1932), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Marion Cullen (Loretta Young)

The small-town organist who dreams beyond her quiet upbringing. She is principled and resilient, willing to sacrifice relationships to protect others and pursue autonomy. Her journey exposes the costs of ambition in a society quick to condemn women under suspicion.

🎭 Ambitious 💪 Resilient 🕊️ Sacrificing

James E. 'Jimmy' Decker (David Manners)

A traveling salesman caught between duty and love. He cherishes Marion but is entangled in his engagement to Enid, creating a conflict between personal loyalty and social expectations. He becomes a focal point in the moral dilemma at the heart of the plot.

💖 Romantic 🧭 Conflicted 🕵️‍♂️ Loyal

Dixie Dare (Una Merkel)

A hopeful showgirl who befriends Marion and helps her break into the production world. She embodies camaraderie amid competition and uses humor to cope with a cutoff from the male-dominated industry.

🌟 Supportive 🧭 Pragmatic 🧩 Enterprising

Dr. Tony Travers (George Brent)

A physician who loves Marion and offers to help her navigate the perilous world of show business. His integrity contrasts with Humphries' manipulation, and his presence provides a stabilizing force through the crisis.

💼 Caring 💬 Diplomatic 🛡️ Protective

Ford Humphries (Louis Calhern)

A philandering producer who sees Marion as a means to advance his production. His power plays and arrogance lead to danger and a dramatic fall, catalyzing the plot's turn toward truth and restitution.

🎩 Powerful ⚠️ Ruthless 🕯️ Self-serving

Enid Hollister (Helen Vinson)

Jimmy's fiancée and daughter of a boss, whose social position complicates relationships and loyalties. Her presence highlights the tension between personal happiness and public expectation.

💍 Expectation 👑 Social role 🧭 Conflicted

Mrs. Hollister (Nella Walker)

The matriarch of Enid's circle, representing societal norms and the judgment of reputations. Her views help drive the social consequences that Marion must confront.

🧭 Social norms 🗣️ Judgmental 👒 Elite

Mr. Cullen (Erville Alderson)

One of the couple who raised Marion, embodying the sense of family and belonging that becomes her anchor during city flight. He provides a reminder of the home Marion struggles to return to.

🏡 Family 🧭 Guidance 🧩 Support

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:48

Major Themes – They Call It Sin (1932)

Explore the central themes of They Call It Sin (1932), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Showbiz Temptation

Marion enters the New York show scene under the gaze of a powerful producer who bends rules for advantage. The pursuit of fame clashes with personal ethics, and Marion must navigate flirtations, manipulation, and the line between art and exploitation. Her experiences reveal the costs of ambition and the thin line between opportunity and coercion. The journey tests her integrity while exposing the power dynamics that shape careers in the theatre world.

🤝 Sacrifice and Loyalty

Friendships and romantic bonds are tested as Marion and Travers balance personal desire with protecting others. Marion's willingness to sacrifice her own chance at happiness underlines a theme of loyalty over self-interest. The narrative shows how love can be a force for courage, restraint, and ethical choice in a tempting environment. Loyalty ultimately guides Marion toward a path that protects the people she cares about.

🕵️ Truth and Reputation

A murder accusation and public scrutiny threaten to ruin lives. The film explores how truth, confession, and legal innocence intersect with social judgment, ultimately clearing the innocent and exposing the real culprit. Marion's confession to shield Jimmy demonstrates the complexity of truth in a world quick to sensationalize reputation. The climax reveals that integrity and evidence can overturn appearances, restoring dignity to those wronged.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:48

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They Call It Sin Summary

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They Call It Sin Summary

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They Call It Sin (1932) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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